Thursday, March 29, 2018

BIRTH OF IMAM ALI (A.S.) INSIDE THE SACRED KA'BA


Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali (a.s.) was born in the year 600 A.D. on 13 Rajab 30th Year of Elephant in Makkah. His father was the Protector of the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.), Hazrat Abu Talib (a.s.) and his mother was Sayyida Fatima Bint Asad (s.a.). Her grandfather was Hazrat Hashim (a.s.). She was a monotheist like all the ancestors of all the Prophets of Allah.
She went to the Sacred Ka’ba and while she was circumambulating, she felt the pains of delivery. She prayed to Allah: “O Allah! I believe in You, and in the Messengers and the Scripts You have sent. I believe in what my grandfather Ibrahim, who built the Ancient House (Ka’ba), believed in. So, for the sake of the Builder of this House, and for the sake of the child in my womb, who talks to me and who is my helper and friend, I implore You to make my labor easy. The child I am carrying is a sign of Your Greatness and Power.” (Al-Arbili, Kashf Al-Ghummah, volume 1 chapter on Imam Ali)
Hazrat Fatima bint Asad (s.a.) leaned against the wall of Ka’ba to rest. Miraculously, the wall cracked opened. Hazrat Fatima bint Asad (s.a.) entered and the wall closed behind her. Hazrat Abbas ibn Abdul Muttalib, the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.)’s uncle witnessed this miracle. He and his companions rushed to the gate of the Sacred House, which was locked, and tried in vain to open it. Understanding that the Divinity was at work there, he and his companions ceased to interfere. The news of this miracle spread throughout Makkah like wild fire.
Imam Ali (a.s.) was born within the Ka’ba with his eyes closed and his body in humble prostration before the Almighty Allah. Hazrat Fatima bint Asad (s.a.) stayed in Ka’ba for three days and as the fourth day approached, she stepped out carrying her baby in her arms. She found the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) waiting to receive the new-born child in his anxious arms. Hence, the first face that little Imam Ali (a.s.) saw in this world was the smiling face of his cousin the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.). Imam Ali (a.s.) said, “Assalaamu alaika ya Rasool Allah” Thus it is confirmed that he (a.s.) was a born Muslim. Imam Ali (a.s.)’s first food was the saliva of the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) when he gave his tongue into the mouth of the baby. The Muslims use the phrase “Karramallahu Wajha” for Imam Ali (a.s.) meaning the one who never prostrated to idols!
No one has ever born or will ever be born inside the Sacred House of Allah. This unique distinction was reserved for Imam Ali (a.s.). Hazrat Fatima bint Asad (s.a.) had said about this special privilege Allah had granted to her and said: “Allah preferred me to all women before me. Assiyah (wife of the Pharaoh) performed the acts of worship in seclusion where Allah did not like to be worshiped except in case of necessity. Mary (s.a.), the daughter of Imran, shook the trunk of the Pam- tree and ripe dates fell upon her. I entered the House of Allah and ate fruits of Paradise, when I was about to leave the place, I heard the Divine call: O Fatima! Name your son Ali because he is high and his Lord Most High. I gave him a name derived from My Own Name. I cultured him the way I willed. I made known to him the intricacies of My Own Omniscience. He is the one to crush the idols in My House. He is the one to call the people to prayer from the roof of My House. He worships Me. Blessed are those who love him, and woe to those who are his enemies.”
His birth in Ka’ba had been reported both by Shi’i and Sunni scholars. To name a few as under:
Masoodi in Murroj-udh-Dhahab, Muhammad ibn Talha al-Shafei in Matalib-us-Saool, Hakim in Mustadrak, Al-Umair in Sharh Ainia, Halabi in Sira, Sibt ibn al-Jauzi in Tadhkira Khawasil Ummah, Ibne Sabbagh Maliki in Fusoolul Mohimma, Muhammad bin Yousuf Shafei in Kifayat al-Talib, Shablangi in Nurul Absar, Ibne Zahra in Ghiythul Ikhtisar.
Among the modern historians, Abbas Mahmood al-Akkad of Cairo (1970), Egypt, writes in his book Al-Abqarriyet al-Imam Ali that Ali ibne Abi Talib was born inside the Ka’ba.
Another contemporary historian, Mahmood Saeed al-Tantawi, of the Supreme Council of Islamic Affair, Arab Republic of Egypt writes: “May God have mercy upon Ali ibne Abi Talib. He was born in Ka’ba. He witnessed the rise of Islam; he witnessed the Dawah of Muhammad, and he was a witness of the Wahi (Revelation of Quran al-Majid). He immediately accepted Islam even though he was still a child, and he fought all his life so that the word of Allah would be supreme.”
Miraculous birth of Imam Ali has many important points to ponder:
Sayyida Fatima bint Asad did not enter the Holy Ka’ba through the door but Allah opened an unusual opening. When Prophet Isa was born, Lady Mariam was told to leave the place of worship and go outside. What was the sustenance of Sayyida Fatima bint Asad for three days? When she entered the Ka’ba, Hazrat Abbas, Hazrat Abu Talib tried to open the door but it will not open, why? On the fourth day, the wall of Ka’ba again opened to give passage to her and the Priceless baby. From the time of construction of Ka’ba, no one had ever been born inside the Sacred Ka’ba nor will ever be born till the Day of Judgment. Imam Ali (a.s.) did not open his eyes for three days while he was inside the Kaaba and opened only when the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) took him in his arms and saw his sacred face when opened his eyes. He (s.a.w.a.s.) placed his noble tongue in Imam Ali (a.s.)’s mouth.
Titles of Imam Ali (a.s.) are:
Babul Ilm-The Gateway of Knowledge
Haider-e-Karrar-The Charging Lion
Waliullah-The Friend of Allah
Mazhar al-Aja’ib- The Manifest of Wonders
Murtaza-The Chosen one of Allah
Imam al-Muttaqeen-The Guide of the Pious
Imamul Aulia-The Guide of the Saints
Asadullah al-Ghalib-The Triumphant Lion of Allah
Siddiq-e-Akbar-The Greatest Truthful
Nafse Rasul-The Soul of the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.)
Lisanullah- The Tongue of Allah
Yadullah-The Hand of Allah
Wajhullah-The Face of Allah
AbuTurab- The Father of the Soil
Farooq-e-Azam-The Greatest Distinguisher
Fath-e-Khaiber-The Conqueror of Khaiber
Abul Aimmah-The Father of Holy Imams

Sources used:
Imamreza Network, The birth of Ali Ibn Abi Talib by Sayyid Ali Asghar Razwy, WIKIPEDIA

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